Why Cyber Monday 2025 Is Huge For Gaming Laptops
Cyber Monday 2025 is shaping up to be one of the best times in years to grab a new gaming laptop. With RTX 50 series GPUs now appearing in lots of machines and older RTX 40 hardware getting pushed down in price, there are solid options whether you are on a tight budget or chasing top tier performance.
From affordable RTX 5050 systems through to beastly RTX 5080 and even RTX 5090 laptops, there is a spread of deals for almost every kind of PC gamer. On top of that, some excellent handheld gaming PCs and Steam Deck style devices are getting serious discounts too.
Below is a breakdown of what you can expect at different price points, what specs actually matter, and which deals stand out if you mainly care about smooth frame rates rather than marketing buzzwords.
Best Sub $1,000 Gaming Laptop Deals
If you are trying to get into PC gaming without annihilating your wallet, the under $1,000 bracket finally has some real choices in 2025.
The standout budget machine is the Acer Nitro V 16 AI with an RTX 5050 and a Ryzen 5 CPU. It pairs that GPU with a 16 inch 1200p 180 Hz IPS screen and 16 GB of DDR5. Storage is only 512 GB but there is room to add another drive later, which makes it a nice starter laptop you can upgrade over time. An RTX 5050 is still entry level so the real value comes when it is heavily discounted, like it is now.
A step up in power comes from RTX 5060 based laptops that slip just under the $1,000 mark. HP’s Omen 16 with an RTX 5060 and a 16 core 32 thread Ryzen 9 8940HX is one of the more ridiculous CPU pairings at this price. You get a 16 inch 1200p panel, 16 GB DDR5 and 512 GB storage. The GPU looks to be a higher wattage 115 W variant, which helps a lot for 1080p and 1200p gaming.
There are also mid sized 15.6 inch machines like the Lenovo LOQ with an RTX 5060 and Intel Core i7 13650HX. These generally offer 1080p 144 Hz displays, 16 GB of DDR5 and 512 GB SSDs. They are perfect if you want a straightforward esports capable laptop and are comfortable adding a second SSD later.
In this price range, focus on:
- RTX 5050 or 5060 GPUs
- At least 16 GB of DDR5
- 120 Hz or higher refresh rate at 1080p or 1200p
- Upgrade options for storage via a second M.2 slot
Sweet Spot Deals: $1,000 to $1,500
Between $1,000 and $1,500 is where Cyber Monday 2025 really shines. Here you start seeing RTX 5070 and RTX 5070 Ti machines, much beefier CPUs, and nicer displays, often with 1600p resolutions and high refresh rates.
One of the best value options is the Gigabyte A16 with an RTX 5070 and Intel Core i7 13620H. It ships with 32 GB of DDR5 and a 1 TB SSD plus a 16 inch 1200p 165 Hz display. Even with the RTX 5070 running at an 85 W power limit, that resolution keeps performance high and frame rates smooth.
The Asus TUF A16 is another highlight. It combines a 115 W RTX 5070 with an eight core 16 thread Ryzen 9 and 32 GB of DDR5. The 16 inch 1200p 165 Hz screen is not ultra high resolution but that is actually an advantage in most games, as the GPU does not struggle to keep up with the refresh rate.
If you care more about portability, there are a couple of strong 14 inch options. The HP Omen Transcend 14 and the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 both pair an RTX 5060 with high resolution OLED panels at 120 Hz. With 1800p resolutions and relatively modest GPU power, you will want to lean on Nvidia DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Generation to get the most from those displays, but they are some of the nicest compact gaming experiences you can get in this bracket.
You will also find RTX 4070 based 14 inch machines like the Acer Predator 14 that still hold up very well. An RTX 4070 mobile GPU with a 1600p 120 Hz panel and a modern Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU remains more than enough for modern titles, especially with DLSS enabled.
In this mid range, try to aim for:
- RTX 5070 or 5070 Ti if you can stretch to it
- At least 1 TB SSD for modern game installs
- 32 GB RAM if you also stream or multitask heavily
- 1200p or 1600p at 120 Hz or 165 Hz as a great balance
High End RTX 5070 Ti, 5080 and 5090 Laptops
For enthusiasts willing to spend $1,500 and beyond, Cyber Monday 2025 brings some serious hardware, including discounts on many RTX 5080 laptops that previously sat well over the two grand mark.
On the upper mid range side, machines like the MSI Vector 16 HX with an RTX 5070 Ti and a Ryzen 9 8940HX are incredibly strong for high refresh 1600p gaming. You typically get a 16 inch 240 Hz panel, 16 GB DDR5 and 1 TB SSD. The RTX 5070 Ti mobile GPU sits nicely between the 5070 and 5080 and is ideal if you want top tier performance without jumping to the very highest price brackets.
The real stars this year are the RTX 5080 machines that have finally dipped toward the $1,900 to $2,000 region. HP’s Omen Max 16 and MSI’s Vector 16 HX AI are prime examples. Both carry full wattage or near full wattage RTX 5080 GPUs, 32 GB of DDR5 in many configs, and 1600p 240 Hz displays. These laptops rival or beat many desktop rigs and are very close to the best mobile GPUs you can currently buy.
At the absolute top sit systems like the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10, which pair a 175 W RTX 5080 with a Core Ultra 9 275HX, 32 GB DDR5 and a 2 TB SSD. Add a 16 inch 1600p 240 Hz OLED display and you are looking at one of the fastest gaming laptops available, period. The trade off is the size and weight, plus fan noise under load, but for raw performance this class is hard to beat.
You will also see premium designs like the Razer Blade 14 and Blade 16 heavily discounted. Even when they only carry an RTX 5070, the combination of 120 Hz or 240 Hz OLED screens, super slim chassis and 32 GB RAM make them some of the most desirable gaming laptops around. You are paying for design and display quality as much as raw frame rates, but during Cyber Monday those premiums get significantly softened.
For high end buyers, target:
- RTX 5070 Ti or RTX 5080 for long term performance headroom
- 32 GB of RAM and at least 1 TB SSD, preferably 2 TB
- 1600p or similar resolution at 240 Hz if you are into competitive shooters
- OLED panels if image quality and HDR are a priority
Do Not Forget Handheld Gaming PCs
The deals are not just on laptops. Handheld gaming PCs are also getting strong Cyber Monday price cuts. The original Steam Deck is still a great entry point to portable PC gaming and behaves like the template for the whole category. It has a small SSD out of the box but can be upgraded easily.
Newer devices like the Lenovo Legion Go S with Ryzen Z1 Extreme APUs and 120 Hz 8 inch screens deliver a lot more power in a Switch style form factor. Paired with SteamOS and solid 512 GB or 1 TB SSDs, they are an excellent way to extend your PC library onto the couch or your commute.
Whether you want a full desktop replacement laptop or a handheld to complement your main rig, Cyber Monday 2025 is full of worthwhile options. The key is to match your budget to the right GPU tier and display, and make sure you have enough RAM and SSD space so your new system stays comfortable for years of gaming to come.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/cyber-monday-gaming-laptop-deals/
